US Spy Chief Says Iranian Plots to Kill Americans Are Advanced
America’s director of national intelligence told the secretary of state, in a dated unclassified memo, that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target American personnel and that lethal plotting has “reached advanced stages”. The memo names no targets, no countries and gives no indication of timing. Four more embassies are cutting staff.
What makes this reportable is that it is a written, dated document from a named official rather than an anonymous briefing, and that two outlets have obtained it and quote the same sentence. What it does not contain is any evidence a reader can inspect, and it remains one government’s assessment of an adversary at a moment when that government is weighing whether to resume strikes. It also sits awkwardly beside the president, who days earlier accused Iran of “making up fake hits, mines, and everything else” in the Gulf — so the same administration is asserting that Iranian plots are real and advanced while calling Iranian claims of Gulf attacks fabrications. The staff reductions cover Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, all already on restricted operations; only Saudi Arabia is under an ordered departure. Brent settled on Friday at $116.72, up 3.1% and the highest settlement since 29 April, after Tehran threatened oil facilities, undersea cables and datacentres across the Gulf if a new offensive begins. At least 21 people have been killed in attacks on Saudi airports this month.